What if it Repeated? (Oumasai/Saiouma)

Chapter 25- Tasks

"It's that easy to die...? If someone simply looks at your card, you die?"
"That's what I said! You lot have had it easy for weeks, so I think it's about time we start having higher stakes!" The bear cackled,
"That's barbaric!" Kaede burst out, "You're toying with us, and we won't play your sick game!"
"Uh uh uh! Violation of rules 1 and 4. Failure to participate will result in punishment, so it's in your best interest to cooperate and keep your own cards hidden!"

"It's not like any of us will try to steal anyone's cards, right? So the card thing shouldn't be a problem." Kaito interjected reassuringly. He sounded like he was not only trying to convince everyone else that it would be fine, but also himself.
"We may like to believe that, but I doubt that will be the case." Said a calm, deep voice. Everyone turned to stare at the perpetrator. Rantaro didn't look abashed, but rather continued to speak, "I'm not saying that I think any of you are murderers, I'm saying that it's a possibility that it might have to come to stealing another person's task note. We don't know how Monokuma has set up this game or what people will have on their own cards."

The room was silent except for the scuffling sounds of a few feet.
"You're saying that someone's task might be to steal someone else's task note?" Shuuichi questioned. It could be a possibility. And according to the rules failure to follow the instructions depicted on the card would result in execution. That's basically a guaranteed death already.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Rantaro shrugged, "id say this is an anything goes sort of arrangement, anything could be on those cards."

"When do we get our tasks?" Ryoma asked,
"The cards are safely in your rooms at this moment." The bear responded with a lazy gesture of his paw.
"Hey, wasn't there a prize for doing these tasks before? Like a get out of killing game free pass? Is that still a thing or..." the voice was from Kokichi. He wasn't smiling, but Shuuichi could tell that the boy was enjoying this whole situation immensely.
"You all missed out on that when you failed your tasks the first time, your reward this time will be still being alive." Shuuichi glanced a look over at Angie. He had expected her to be angry at this news that her efforts were for nothing and she would no longer be able to leave this killing game, but she didn't seem to be listening at all to Monokuma.

"I don't wanna do this... what if I get a really bad task... I don't..." Himiko's voice broke mid sentence. Shuuichi felt a rush of anger towards the mastermind. This might have been one of the worst 'motives' they had sprung on them. There was the fear of the unknown riddled with an underlying suspicion that was brought on by not knowing what anyone else was told to do. To what extent did these tasks go? Would the mastermind utilise the tasks to start the killing? By the way the rules were explained, that seemed likely.

"We have no choice but to go along with this, we'll have to make do." Kirumi replied calmly, folding her hands in front of her with finality, "with that I'll make my leave."
"What? You gonna steal our cards Kirumi? That's pretty low even for you~"
"Shut up Ouma! Stop trying to cause suspicion between us!" Kaito shivered with anger.
"You're saying THAT caused suspicion? Wow, says a lot about you Momota."
"Like what?!" Kaito said through gritted teeth, "what exactly does that say about me?" Shuuichi caught the smile on Kokichi's face and his stomach turned over. That was the cue to leave.

"I think we should all leave." Kaede interrupted the exchange, her face set. Shuuichi let out a sigh of relief, he hadn't wanted to get in the middle of one of these fights. There was a murmur of reply and a few people started moving towards the door. In the midst of the movement Shuuichi pulled Kokichi with him to the exit. Kokichi didn't struggle, but Shuuichi did catch a frown from the boy before he turned his attention to getting out of the gym. As he passed Kaede he gave her a little nod and a thankful smile which was returned.

Everyone was silent on the walk back and nobody bothered to bid farewell as they all made it into their respective rooms. When Shuuichi closed his door he scanned the room for anything out of place. There was a small envelope dropped neatly on the bed. He approached the letter and picked it up. His name was scrawled untidily on the front in large disjointed writing. Was this the Mastermind's handwriting or someone else's. Could the monokubs write? It was unlikely, but maybe this could be used as a clue to finding the real mastermind. He could cross examine between the other envelopes to find similarities.

He slid the envelope open and pulled out the piece of paper inside. What would he have to do? The mastermind already had it out for him...

'Survive passed the first class trial'

He stared at the words for a long while. Survive. That was all? It couldn't be that simple. There must be something he was missing. He flipped the piece of paper over to see if there was anything on the back, but found it only blank. That meant all he had to do was stay alive and he would be safe right? That must be a mistake.

Did the mastermind take pity on him and throw him some good fortune? He very much doubted that. There would be a twist of sorts. Something that would come between him and life. He was probably going to need to watch his back more carefully from now on.

Now. Where to put this note. Was it best to keep it on himself at all times or have a spot in his room as a hiding spot? He folded the paper in half and took off his shoe. It was kind of gross, but this way he would know if someone went to steal it. Not that they would know where it was in the first place and the shoe thing would also act as a deterrence. Perfect.

Another problem with possibly being targeted was that there might now be a time limit on his life. If someone was out to get him, he was going to have to act fast on finding the perfect reality to make sure his efforts weren't for nothing. Without time to waste he sprang out the door and over to Miu's where he knocked loudly. Her head poked out of the sliver of space between the door and its frame.
"Huh? What do y-you want?" She shrieked as though she had seen a ghost. She recovered quickly though,
"I need to go to another reality, right now." Her eyes widened at that and she shook her head fervently,
"No way, first of all you just got back from one, the machine needs to recharge and shit,"she said, opening the door a little more so that he could see her counting the reasons off on her fingers, "second you're pushing yourself too hard and third I don't want to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The question came out more accusatory than he had wanted. Miu didn't respond so he continued. "What do you mean you don't want to? Are you just giving up after all this?"
"I'm not giving up! Can't you just take anything anyone says at face value, you annoying prick?! I just don't want to now." The door shut with a snap and he was left in a ringing silence. Take everything at face value? Was it a problem that he wanted to get the full truth? Whatever Miu said, there was definitely some underlying problems contributing to this behaviour. He needed fresh air. He suddenly felt very constricted standing inside.

He took a seat on the steps outside overlooking the small courtyard. Was everyone going to be acting strangely now? Why did everything have to deviate so far from what he was used to? He had no idea what was going to happen in this reality. He was lost. He couldn't stop anything from happening. And what if he was killed? Everything he had done here would be for nothing. Would he get another chance? Would he restart in another reality again?

"Oh Saihara..." Shuuichi swung around, almost cracking his neck in the process. Himiko was standing in the doorway looking extremely out of place. Her face looked washed out and tear streaked.
"Hi Yumeno..." he said awkwardly, "are you alright?" She shook her head and collapsed into a spot next to him on the step. There was a short silence between them where he could only hear the faint sharp breaths of Himiko.
"This game is horrible, why is this happening to us? We didn't do anything wrong, did we?"

He had been so worried about himself he had forgotten that he wasn't the only one going through this. Himiko might have gotten a task similar to his and she was scared. She might have something worse on the other side of the spectrum.
"No we didn't, but there isn't much we can do now except keep living." He reached over and patted her gently on the shoulder, "and to do that we have to complete these tasks." If he had thought that was the right thing to say he had been terribly wrong. Himiko's eyes seemed to fill with tears again and her face became paler still.

"I c-can't... I can't do my task... I'm going to die, what do I do?!" She had turned to face him, eyes wide and glassy. What was her task? What would cause this large of reaction. "Saihara, I-i don't want to die..." What was he supposed to do?
"Yumeno... we'll figure something out," he felt her shake under his hand, "it's only been a couple of hours at most, we'll figure something out and get out of this, I promise." Himiko inhaled a shaky breath and turned her eyes onto him.
"You promise?" he nodded. That was another lie he had to tell. There was no way this game was going to be over without a death.